ESSENTIAL SCIENCES FOR UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING HADITH

Abstract: This article analyzes important scholarly disciplines that are essential in the process of interpreting hadiths. In particular, it examines gharib al-hadith, which serves as a primary tool for the correct understanding of hadith texts; asbab wurud al-hadith (the circumstances and causes of a hadith’s narration); mukhtalif al-hadith, which aims to reconcile narrations that outwardly appear contradictory in meaning; and the sciences of nasikh and mansukh, which determine the legal status and applicability of hadiths. Each of these scholarly disciplines serves as an important methodological foundation for achieving a deep and comprehensive understanding of hadiths. The article also discusses the theoretical foundations of these sciences, their interrelation with sharh al-hadith (hadith commentary), and their practical significance through illustrative examples.